Portable folding floor for bathroom use



y 1966 E. GEORGE ETAL. 3,253,293

PORTABLE FOLDING FLOOR FOR BATHROOM USE Filed May 20, 1964 Elmer George R0 y E. Banks 1 N VEN TOR 5 Mm BY m, 25m

United States Patent 3,253,293 PGRTABLE FOLDING FLOOR FOR BATHRDOM USE Elmer George, 195 Armour Drive, and Roy E. Banks, 127 E. Chestnut St., both of Washington, Pa. Filed May 20, I964, Ser. No. 368,896 3 Claims. (Cl. 115-215) The present invention relates to a novel portable mat, alternatively, a folding floor which is functionally designed and structurally adapted to be temporarily plalced atop a stationary floor or an equivalent support surface adjacent a bath tub, shower stall or swimming pool and is so constructed that the user can stand thereon, dry himself and dress wholly or partially.

More particularly, the herein disclosed concept has to do with a simple, easy-to-use, structurally feasible mat or floor which is adapted to shield and protect the users feet from a foundation or floor surface which may be undesirably cold, damp or wet, or perhaps, as is often the case, dirty and unsanitary.

Distinguished from prior art floors and mats in the category of inventions under consideration, the mat herein revealed affords the user selectively and timely usalble component parts which are foldable and function in a unique manner to provide progressively usable support surfaces on which first one foot and then the other foo-t can be dried after which all of the upwardly facing surfaces, which are dry, can be effectually utilized for Wholly or partly dressing, as the case may be.

The invention features a one-piece construction wherein the sections of the mat can be (1) partly folded for initial foot drying and drainage disposal (2) can be partially unfolded in a step by-step manner (3) spread fiatwise for dressing, and (4) folded into compact form for transporation' and/ or storage.

Briefly, the improved rnat or floor comprises a dual section median portion whose bottom side or surface resides firmly atop the bathroom floor (or other support surface). The top surfaces of these two components or sections face up, are dry, are foldably joined and, when in use, are coplanar. A first relatively movable or swingaJb-le companion section is folded in atop the dry surface of one section of the median portion and has an outwardly disposed longitudinal edge foldably joined to a cooperating longitudinal edge of said one section or half-portion. A second relatively movable section is likewise foldahly joined to a cooperating longitudinal edge of the other section or half-portion, and correspondingly folded over and atop the last-named section. These swingable sections have normally dry top surfaces and can be lifted and flipped over and thus reversed. When, however, .they are in their initial positions they serve as drip-water collecting and self-draining trays. When they have served this initial purpose and have been flipped outwardly their wet surfaces are now caused to rest on the underlying support surfaces, whereby the former underneath surfaces, which are dry, are brought into play and coordinate with the dry surfaces of the median sections. Accordingly, all four sections are then in a common plane and are available for dressing needs.

To the ends desired, the overall mat is made of waterproof material which is imperforate and co mpressibly resilient. It follows that the sections constitute anti-slipping and comfortable pads which are easy on the feet, are safe, and otherwise serve the unique purposes for which they are intended.

Then, too, the top sides of the initially used sections have upstanding marginal flanges which transform said sections into novel drip-water trapping and self-draining trays, whereby to achieve a result not available in prior art mats and floors.

3,253,293 Patented May 31, 1966 These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the adcornpanyin-g drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing a portable folding mat or floor for use atop a relatively stationary bathroom or equivalent floor or surface;

FIGURE 2 is also a view in perspective similar to FIG- URE 1 showing the manner in which the user employs the floor and while standing atop one section with the wet foot at the left proceeds to use the dry foot at the right to lift and reverse the position of one of then existing outwardly swingable sections;

FIGURE 3 is also aview in perspective wherein all four sections are disposed in a common horizontal plane and all four dry surfaces are available for continuing use while partly or wholly dressing;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on the plane of the irregular section line 44 of FIGURE 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of the section line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE '6 is an enlarged detail section showing one corner portion of one of the movable or swingable sections, this view representing said section in its inverted or downwardly facing position; and

FIGURE 7 is a view in perspective showing the mannerin which all four sections are collapsed or folded into a compact package for transportation handling and storage. With reference first to FIG. 3 it will be evident that the floor or mat is of one-piece construction, that the four distinguishable sections are preferably, but no necessarily, rectangular in plan. These sections are preferably compressibly resilient and constitute simple comfortably usable pads. Any suitable waterproof material which is strong, durable and possessed of the desired foldaible and cushion properties will be used. It follows, too, that when the four sections are spread out in the generally flat manner shown in FIG. 3 they provide an overall floor or mat which is preferably but not necessarily rectangular in plan.

The median portion of the overall floor or mat is denoted by the numeral 10 and comprises two companion panel-like pads or sections the one at the left (FIG. 3) being denoted by the numeral 12 and the one at the right by the numeral 14. The adjacent inwardly disposed longitudinal edge portions of these two sections 12 and 14 are foldably or hingedly connected by a crease or fold In which is such as to integrally join the sections but, at the same time, to allow the same to be folded in the manner required. These two sections 12 and 14, that is, when the device is set up for use as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 constitute the temporary base or bottom of the overall mat. The top planar surfaces 18 and 20 are imperforate and dry. The bottom surfaces 2?. and 24 (FIG. 4) are adapted to be suitably supported on the bathroom floor or other sjationary foundation or surface 26.

The outward longitudinal edge portions 28 and 30 are joined by creases or fold lines to the inward longitudinal surfaces 32 and 34 of the left and right panel-like pads or sections 36 and 3:8, the upwardly facing planar surfaces 46' and 42 (FIG. 3) being dry and substantially coplanar with the surfaces 18 and 20.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2 and particularly to FIG. 1 it will be noted that the left or first movable or swingable section 36 has been swung upwardly and inwardly whereby the surface 40 isusuperimposed atop the surface 18 of the section 12. The folding joint means 28 and 32 permits this step .to be readily accomplished and when in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 the former bottom surface now becomes the upwardly facing or top surface 44. The second movable or foldable section 38 is likewise swung upwardly and inwardly from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 1 using the hinge means 30 and 34 for the purpose and thus placing the surface 42 atop the surface 20 and bringing the then existing upwardly facing or top surface 46 to the position shown. In practice, these surfaces 44 and 46 preferalbly slope slightly from the center of the ready-to-use device toward the then existing outward longitudinal edge portions. Both sections 36 and 38 are provided with integral upstanding adjoined longitudinal flanges 50 and transverse or end flanges 52. These several flanges are so arranged that they combine with the surfaces 44 and 46 in defining drip-water trapping and draining trays which perform or function in the manner shown in FIG. 2. It follows that the first and second sections 36 and 38 serve not only as initially usable pads to step on and stand on but constitute practical drip water trapping, collecting and draining trays.

These tray-like pads or sections 36 and 38 are initially in the position shown in FIG. 1 but are capable of being turned outwardly and reversed to assume the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 thus providing the user with four oriented and selectively usable integrated but fo'ldable sections 18, 20, 36 and 38. When the device is set up for initial use the tray sections 36 and 38 are superimposed atop the then underlying surfaces 18 and 20 of the sections the respective trays and will be shunted over the outboard I edges in the manner suggested in FIG. 2. Then, the user drys one foot, say the foot at the right in FIG. 2 and having dried the same, places the foot underneath the swingable section 38 and flips it up and out to an inverted position thus uncovering the dry surface 20 and also dry surface 42. The former upwardly disposed surface 46 is now facing down as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, inclusive. The user then proceeds to dry the foot at the left in FIG. 2

and likewise places his foot beneath the section 36 and flips or swings it outwardly to assume a corresponding downwardly facing position. At this stage all of the sections have their then existing upwardly facing dry surfaces 18, 20, 40 and 42 available whereby to provide a dry area sufficient to well serve the user while he proceeds to wholly or partly dress.

For handling, transporting or storing the four sections are folded into a compact bundle or package and wrapped if desired when not in use. This manner of using the device is illustrated and self-evident it is believed as shown in FIG. 7.

A careful consideration of all of the views of the drawing in conjunction with the specification will enable the reader to obtain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the invention, its features, advantages and preferred mode of use. Accordingly, a more extended description is thought to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:.

1. A portable onepiece folding mat for use adjacent a shower stall, bathtub, swimming pool or the like comprising: a compressibly resilient median portion embodying a pair of folding rectangular panel-like pads having bottom sides to reside on a stationary floor and fiat top sides for the user to stand on, said pads having inward and outward longitudinal edge portions, said inward longitudinal edge portions being foldably joined, a second pair of compressibly resilient rectangular panel-like pads having inward longitudinal edge portions foldably joined to the respective outward longitudinal edge portions of said first-named pads, all of said pads being imperforate and made of water-repellant material, the pads of said second pair being provided on corresponding upwardly usable sides with integral upstanding marginal flanges which in conjunction with the surfaces encompassed thereby provide water trapping self-draining trays.

2. A portable onepiece folding floor embodying a median portion having a bottom surface of an area that it can be placed and supported fiatwise and firmly atop a bathroom floor adjacent a bathtub and also embodying a normally dry top surface for the user to stand on, a first relatively movable section superimposed upon a first half-portion of the dry top surface of said median portion, said first section having an outwardly disposed longitudinal edge integrally foldably joined to a corresponding longitudinal edge of said first half-portion, and a second relatively movable section complemental to said first relatively movable section and likewise superimposed upon a dry top surface of a second half-portion of said median portion' and also having an outward longitudinal edge portion foldably joined to an adjacent outer longitudinal edge of said second half-portion, the top surfaces of said first and second movable sections being imperforate and waterproof and each top surface being initially dry and of an area in plan to accommodatingly support one foot of the user, and sloping outwardly anddownwardly in a manner to drain water therefrom, said first and second sections being adapted to be selectively and successively lifted and swung upwardly outwardly to completely uncover the dry top surface of said median portion and, in addition, to reverse and face the dry underneath surfaces of said movable sections upwardly for use, and said top surfaces having inner longitudinal edges and transverse ends provided with adjoined upstanding curb-like flanges which, in conjunction with the encompassed top surfaces define self-draining water trapping, collecting and disposable trays.

3. The structure according to claim 2, and wherein said median portion consists of two companion sections having adjacent centrally located longitudinal marginal portions foldably joined, whereby to permit all four sections to be collapsed and neatly folded into a compact package for storing and handling.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 295,782 3/1884 Martinez l229 2,263,516 11/1941 Pettit 52663 2,264,672 12/ 1941 Levine 4185 3,019,486 2/ 1962 Stinson 231 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

R. A. STENZEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE ONEPIECE FOLDING MAT FOR USE ADJACENT A SHOWER STALL, BATHTUB, SWIMMING POOL OR THE LIKE COMPRISING: A COMPRESSIVELY RESILIENT MEDIAN PORTION EMBODYING A PAIR OF FOLDING RECTANGULAR PANEL-LIKE PADS HAVING BOTTOM SIDES TO RESIDUE ON A STATIONARY FLOOT AND FLAT TOP SIDES FOR THE USER TO STAND ON, SAID PADS HAVING INWARD AND OUTWARD LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTIONS, SAID INWARD LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTIONS BEING FOLDABLY JOINED, A SECOND PAIR OF COMPRESSIBLY RESILIENT RECTANGULAR PANEL-LIKE PADS HAVING INWARD LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTIONS FOLDABLY JOINED TO THE RESPECTIVE OUTWARD LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST-NAMED PADS, ALL OF SAID PADS BEING IMPERFORATE AND MADE OF WATER-REPELLANT MATERIAL, THE PADS OF SAID SECOND PAIR BEING PROVIDED ON CORRESPONDING UPWARDLY USABLE SIDES WITH INTEGRAL UPSTANDING MARGINAL FLANGES WHICH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SURFACES ENCOMPASSED THEREBY PROVIDE WATER TRAPPING SELF-DRAINING TRAYS. 